LEINSTER AT FULL STRENGTH FOR SCARLETS

12 April 2006 13:54pm

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Gordon D'Arcy, Emmett Byrne and Reggie Corrigan are added to the squad that defeated the Border Reivers 35-34 at Netherdale last weekend. Also included in the squad are the likes of Shane Horgan, Felipe Contepomi, Keith Gleeson, Brian O'Driscoll, Malcolm O' Kelly, Bank of Scotland (Ireland) Leinster Player of the Month for February / March Kieran Lewis and former Scarlets player Guy Easterby.

Leinster Coach Micheal Cheika knows victory this weekend is crucial if the current league leaders are to maintain their push for the Celtic League crown.

"We've got a maximum of 25 points to play for and it's important that we use our two remaining home games to get as many points as we can," he said. "We are striving to maintain a consistent peak performance which takes practice.

"That's a challenge both to the mind as well as to physical preparation. We've brought several new aspects into our play for the next few weeks.

"The key is to make sure that the players keep on learning. We'll be putting out as strong a team as we can because we want to stay competitive."

Cheika says the Scarlets will be tricky proposition despite their Powergen Cup final defeat last weekend.

"There's no better team to play than Llanelli Scarlets who will be very tough opponents. I watched the Powergen Cup final last weekend and if they kept going in the same (in the same vein) as they did in the first half then they would have won.

"Maybe Simon Easterby going off affected them? I have been hugely impressed by them, it was a great effort to get to the final."

Meanwhile, Leinster will hold a 'Family Day' before this Friday's game. This will be Leinster Supporters final chance to cheer on the team before the Heineken Cup semi final against Munster next week.

Actor and Millennium Stadium Tour Guide Gareth Bale has been performing his one-man play about Wales rugby legend Ray Gravell across Wales. He chats to WRU TV before taking his show to the Edinburgh Festival.

After widespread consultation, the WRU has made major changes to its pathway programme for girls rugby with a spring and summer season being introduced with immediate effect in order to respond to a clear demand to play the game.

Martyn Phillips addresses the press after being unveiled as the Welsh Rugby Union's new group chief executive. Phillips, who is originally from Fishguard, will work alongside WRU Chairman Gareth Davies, to lead and manage the strategic and operational development and evolution of the governing body at a time of rapid change within the game and will take up his new role at the WRU in the autumn.

The Webb Ellis Cup visited Lampeter on Monday to recognise the fact that the town is celebrating a major milestone as it is believed the first ever game of rugby played in Wales, was in fact played in Lampeter 150 years ago.